‘We don’t have enough midwives’: Australia’s midwifery workforce in crisis, report finds
Australia’s midwifery workforce is ‘in crisis’ with not enough midwives or students to meet future needs, a new report has warned. Released in Canberra today, the Midwifery Futures report, commissioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), exposes widespread local staffing shortfalls, especially in non-metropolitan areas, which would have ‘catastrophic impact’ if the […]
ANMF calls for urgent action to address birth trauma in Australia
The ANMF has called for the urgent implementation of all 43 recommendations from the NSW Select Committee on Birth Trauma report.
Midwives in prime position to help pregnant women give up alcohol, research says
Midwives are well-positioned to help support pregnant women to stop or cut down on alcohol and other drug use and to improve outcomes for themselves and their children, according to researchers. A new South Australian initiative is examining the role midwives can play in promoting key public health messages and supporting abstinence during pregnancy. The […]
Privately practising midwives rally against potential restrictions to scope of practice
After more than two decades in the public health system, midwife Di Longworth ventured into private practice, offering midwifery services, including homebirths, to her local community.
Inside South Australia’s new virtual care service for women with symptoms of early pregnancy loss
Women in South Australia who are showing signs of early pregnancy loss can now conveniently access vital midwifery-led care and support through video consultations from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. The new virtual Women’s Assessment Service, run by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN), enables women across the state experiencing symptoms […]
Count the babies win: Queensland to introduce midwifery ratios
This is something our midwives have been calling for, for years, and I want to acknowledge the tireless advocacy of our incredible frontline health staff. The QNMU is now awaiting further detail from the Queensland Government on when the midwifery ratios will be rolled out. Additional midwives will be needed to meet the ratios, QNMU […]
Meet the NT Midwife of the Year
Earlier this year, midwife and childbirth educator Helen Nenke was named NT Midwife of the Year at the prestigious Northern Territory Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards 2023. Helen has worked with Anglicare NT’s Pandanus program for eight years, providing childbirth and early parenting education to young mothers under 25 and their partners, with her non-judgmental […]
NMBA partners with Burnet Institute to undertake midwifery workforce review
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has partnered with the Burnet Institute to conduct a comprehensive review of the midwifery workforce that will provide a map of the future supply and demand of midwives across the country. Amid rising concerns that growth is stalling in the midwifery profession, the in-depth review of the […]
Qld government commits $16 million following midwifery rally to address workforce issues
The Queensland government has pledged $16 million for regional, remote and rural Midwifery Group Practices (MGPs), as well as creating the role of a state Chief Midwife to help navigate the profession’s ongoing issues, following protest action outside Parliament House this week. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) and the Australian College of Midwives […]
Queensland midwives rally following unsafe workload audit
In an unprecedented action, Queensland midwives rallied outside Parliament House yesterday calling for urgent state government midwifery funding. It follows a recent audit of Queensland maternity inpatient wards which found single midwives are being left to care for up to 20 mothers and babies at a time. The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU, ANMF […]